Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon oils



May 30, 1933; H. R. SNOW APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Feb. 14. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 30, 1933.

H. R. SNOW APPARATUS: FOR CONVERTING. HYDROGARBON OILS Filed Feb. 14 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JkmenZw",

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Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD .R. SNOW, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA OIL. COMPANY, or

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBON OILS Application filed February 14,1930. Serial No. 428,431.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus adapted to be employed in connectlon with processes for the treatment of hydrocarbon oils and refers more partlcularly to an inlet nozzle for introducing hydrocarbon oil vapors, heated to a conversion temperature, into an enlarged zone or chamber wherein they are subjected to cracking or conversion. The invention will be fully understood from the following description, illustrated. by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on line 1 of Fig. 2, of a reaction chamber provided with a vapor 1nlet nozzle which is constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic layout of a portion of apparatus in which the deviceof the present invention is employed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a reaction chamber of suitable design for use in the vapor phase cracking of hydrocarbon oils, for example, processes such as those described in the co-pending application of Snow, Serial N 0. 428,430, filed February 14, 1930, and the co-pending application of Snow and Sullivan, Serial No. 427,216, filed February the oil, undergoing treatment, is heated in a heating zone wherein it is vaporized and the vapors brought to an effective cracking temperature at which the desired type of cracking will be secured. The products then flow from the heating zone and pass into the lower portion of a suitable reaction chamber.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the numeral 25 indicates a pipe still furnace of suitable design for use in vapor phase cracking, for example, one such as is described in the co-pending applications already referred to. In such a furnace, the feed to the coil, suitably a composite stOck consisting partly of fresh oil and partly of cycle stock derived in the course of the. operation, may be supplied under suitable pressure by the pump 26 through line 27 to an initial heating section 28 of a pipe still, where it is brought 1 desirable to introduce 10, 1930. In such processes 1 to an elevated temperature below that at which rapid vaporization and decomposition begins. The oil then passes through line 29 to a hotter section of the furnace, and passes through the vaporizing and cracking oils 30, wherein it is rapidly vaporized and brought to an effective cracking temperature at which the desired type of cracking will be secured. The products then pass out through the line 6v and enter the lower portion of the reaction chamber 5, whereln a further conversion of the vapors is effected. In general, it is desirable that a substantial amount of cracking takes place during the passage of the oil through the pipe still 30.

The reaction chamber employed in such a process is ordinarily a vertically disposed elongated chamber of cylindrical form, and is maintained largely filled with vapors, only a low level of tarry liquid being permitted therein. As is pointed out in the co-pending applications, already referred to, it is found the vapors in'the proximity oflthe bottom of the reaction chamber in such a manner as to avoid turbulence of the vapors in the reaction chamber, so that a temperature gradient between the vapors in the reaction chamber near the inlet thereto and the vapor outlet therefrom, which is located at a point remote from the inlet, will be maintained.

In the present embodiment the pipe 6, which conducts the vapor products from the heating zone into the reaction chamber 5, protrudes into the interior of the chamber 5 and communicates with the inlet nozzle of the present invention, which is indicated as a whole at 7. The outlet of the nozzle 7 is located above the level of the tarry'liquid, the level of which is indicated by the dotted line A (Fig. 1). The level of this liquid is controlled by continuously or intermittently withdrawing predetermined portions of it through draw-off line 9.. The opening of the draw-off line 9 is surrounded by a coil 10 through which may be circulated a suitable cooling medium. he purpose and the operation of this coil 10 and the outlet 9, are described in the co-pending applications already alluded to.

The vapor outlet 31 is the vapors are directed lbocaged in, or adjacent, the top of the chain The pipe 6 terminates in a section 11 of enlarged diameter, which is connected thereto by means of a flanged coupling 8, so that the section 11 and the nozzle 7, which is attached thereto, may be readily removed from the interior of the chamber 5 in the event it is necessary to clean out any coke or other solid 'matter from the interior of the chamber. The end of the enlarged section 11 is provided with a downwardly opening elbowcoupling 12 to which the nozzle 7 is secured.

The nozzle 7 comprises a downwardly opening conical plate 13, the upper portion of which is secured to a threaded nipple 14 having threaded engagement with the elbow 12. In the embodiment shown, the plate 13 is provided with an annular flange 15 which embraces the sides or" the nipple 1 1, being secured thereto by one or more bolts 16. The lower edges of the plate 13 are curved outwardly and upwardly, as shown at 17. The :trustro conical plate 13 thus forms an outwardly expanding mouth for the conduit means leading from the vaporizing and cracking coils 30. Below the plate 13 and spaced from its lower margin, is a bafie plate 18 having a conical shape which is less acutely conical than the plate 13. The plate 18 is maintained in spaced relationship relative to the plate 13 by means of a plurality of bolts 19 which pass through each of the plates and which each carry a bushing 20 against which the plates are forced by means of a pair of nuts 21. The lower ends of the bolts 19 rest in suitable sockets 22 secured to the lower end of the reaction chamber 5, whereby the entire assembly is supported within the chamber 5.

In the operation, the vaporous products produced in the pipe still flow from the line 6, through the enlarged section 11, wherein their velocity is somewhat reduced, and then into the circular opening between the flaring plate 13 and the baffle plate 18, whereby they flow outwardly in a substantially horizontal circular expanding sheet into the interior of the chamber 5. The upward curve 17 of the margin of the plate 13 forms a diverging opening which also functions to avoid jet effects being produced by the incoming vapors on the body of vapors within the chamber 5. Thus, it will be'seen, that direct contact with the tarry liquids is prevented and smoothly laterally. turbulence of the vapors within the chamber 5 being largely prevented. The annular nozzle opening formed vbet-ween the marginal portions or the spaced plates 13 and 18 is preferably of greater area than the cross sectional area of the flared or expanding passageway of the inlet conduit formed or defined by the conical plate 13, so that the velocity of the vapors flowing from the nozand form therewith zle opening will be less than that within the flared or expanding passageway of the inlet conduit formed or defined by the plate 13.

Although I have described the present invention in connection with a description 0 specific embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the details set forth shall be regarded as limitations uponthe scope of the invention, except so far as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. in combination a closed reaction chamber adapted to contain a body of hydrocarbon oil vapors maintained at cracking temperature and provided with a vapor outlet adjacent the upper end thereof, an inlet member mounted within said chamber at a point adjacent the lower end thereof for introducing into said chamber hydrocarbon oil vapors heated to cracking temperature, said nozzle comprising a pair of spaced plate like members, a plurality of bolts passing through said plate-like members having their lower ends secured to the bottom of said chamber for supporting said plate-like members within the chamber in spaced relation, and conduit means communicating with an opening provided in one of said plates for introducing hydrocarbon oil vapors into the space between said members, said plate-like members being disposed in a plane substantially transverse to the length ofsaid chamber, whereby said vapors will be discharged from between them in an expanding sheet in a direction substantially transverse to the length of said chamber so that substantially no turbulence will be imparted to the body of vapors between said inlet member and the vapor outlet.

2. Apparatus for efiecting decomposition of hydrocarbon oils in the vapor phase to produce lower boiling oils therefrom which comprises an enlarged reaction chamber adapted to contain hydrocarbon oil vapors under cracking conditions of temperature, means exterior of said chamber for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils cracking temperature, means for introducing the heated vapors produced in said vaporizing and heating means into said chamber without causing substantial turbulence of the vapor body therein comppising a conand heating them to' duit leading from said vaporizlng and heating means and extending into the interior of said chamber, a portion of said conduit within said chamber being provided with an expanding passage open atits enlarged end, and means cooperating with said member at its enlarged end for diverting the vapors an outlet nozzle openmg.

3. Apparatus for effecting decomposition of hydrocarbon oils in the vapor phase to produce lower boiling oils, therefrom which comprises an enlarged reaction chamber adapted to contain hydrocarbon oil vapors under cracking conditions of temperature, means exterior of said chamber for Vaporizing hydrocarbon oils and heating them to cracking temperature, means for introducing the heated vapors produced-in said va-.

porizing and heating means into said chamber without causing substantial turbulence of the vapor body therein comprising a conduit leading' from said vaporizing and heating means and extending into said chamber, the mouth of said conduit comprising an expanding passage, and a baffle spaced from the mouth of said .conduit and cooperating with the same to form therewith a rapidly enlarging outlet nozzle opening adapted to discharge vapors in such-manner as to avoid substantially a jet action on the body of vapors within said chamber.

4. Apparatus for effecting decomposition of hydrocarbon oils in the vapor phase to produce lower boiling oils therefrom which comprises an enlarged reaction chamber adapted to contain hydrocarbon oil vapors under cracking conditions of temperature,

means exterior of said chamber for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils and heating them to cracking temperature, means for introducing the heated vapors produced in said vaporizing and heating means into said chamher without causing substantial turbulence of the vapor body therein comprising. a conduit leading from said vaporizing and heating means extending into the interior of said chamber, the mouth of said conduit comprising an expanding passage open at its enlarged end, and a baflle spaced from the said enlarged end to divert the vapors issuing therefrom, said bafiie co-operating with the said conduit mouth to forman annular outlet nozzle opening of greater area than the cross-sectional area of the expand ing passage of said conduit.

5. In combination, an enlarged reaction chamber adapted to contain a body of hydro: carbon oil vapors maintained at cracking temperature. means exteroir of said chamber for vaporizing hydrocarbon oils and heating them to cracking temperature, and means for supplying hydrocarbon oil vapors from said heating and vaporizing means into said chamber, said latter means comprising a conduit member leading from said heating and vaporizing means and extending into the interior of said chamber, the mouth of said conduit comprising an expanded passageway, and baflle means associated with the mouth of said conduit and spaced therefrom for deflecting the vapors in the form of an expanding sheet.-

6. In combination an elongated chamber adapted to contain a body of hydrocarbon oil vapors, a vapor outlet for said chamber,

means exterior of said chamber for heating and vaporizing hydrocarbon oils, and means for supplying hydrocarbon oil vapors from said heating and vaporizing means into said chamber at a point removed from said va or outlet whereby vapors entering said cham er will flow longitudinally of said chamber to said vapor outlet, said supply means comprising a conduit member leading from said heating and vaporizing means and extending into the interior of said chamber, the mouth of said conduit member comprising means forming an expanding passageway open art its enlarged end, the opening of said conduit member being positionedto normally discharge said vapors in a direction of flow substantially parallel to the general flow of vapors through the chamber, and means cooperating with the said conduit opening for diverting vapors discharged therefrom in a direction of flow substantially transverse to the general flow of vapors through said chamber, whereby substantial turbulence of the body of vapors intermediate said vapor outletand the opening of said supply conduit is substantially avoided.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature, this 28th day of January 1930.

' HAROLD R. SNOW.

GERTiFICATE (BF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,911,476. May 3%, i933.

HAROLD R0 sNowQ it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, iine 115, aiter "opening" insert "trustro"; line 90, oiaim l, strike out the word '"pinte-flihe, and line 93, for "plates" read "plate-like members"; page 3, line 47, claim 5, for "exteroir" read "exterior"; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record or the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D. 1933a M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

